A Strong Confluence: Business Leaders and Field Marshal Asim Munir Get Together for Economic Discussion
In a unique and compelling union of Pakistan’s leading business leadership with the nation’s military hierarchy, Field Marshal Asim Munir sat down for a meeting with a high-level delegation of the country’s most influential economic stakeholders. The all-powerful meeting was chaired by the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA), with Chairman Kamran Arshad and 18 presidents of Chambers of Commerce.
This unprecedented outreach is being viewed as an earnest effort to narrow the widening chasm between state institutions and business a critical step toward national economic rejuvenation.
APTMA Voice: Concerns Over FBR Powers and Industrial Costs
APTMA Chairman Kamran Arshad ensured that the delegation highlighted a number of issues concerning the business climate, particularly those that arise from the powers of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). He emphasized that the excessively arbitrary and frequent over-reach by FBR rules is strangling industrial growth and deterring investment.
“The FBR’s unrestricted powers have instilled a climate of fear and doubt in the textile sector and beyond,” Kamran Arshad said. “Our encounter with Field Marshal Asim Munir was an attempt to express these fears at the top.”
The delegation particularly called for reviewing the FBR’s discretionary powers and pushing for a more facilitative and transparent method of tax collection.
Emergency Appeals: Sales Tax and Energy Reforms
The business executives did not rest there. They also called for the levy of an 18% sales tax on imported yarn, gray fabric, and cotton. This is a strategic move to level the playing ground for the local textile industry that is struggling to contain cheap imports and a shrinking export market.
Furthermore, Kamran Arshad raised the chronic issue of exorbitant electricity rates for industries—an ongoing burden that continues to eat into profit margins and reduce competitiveness. He emphasized that this cost inefficiency must be urgently addressed to ensure industrial sustainability.
Commendation for Field Marshal’s Engagement
The press statement released by APTMA was replete with appreciation for Field Marshal Asim Munir’s ready willingness to meet face to face with the business community. The association praised his leadership and recognized his endeavors towards economic stability at a time of national uncertainty.
We commend Field Marshal Asim Munir for taking the time to consider our concerns,” the statement said. “His economic development initiatives for Pakistan are a fresh breeze in an otherwise stagnant policy atmosphere.
Business leaders specifically valued the fact that the meeting was not symbolic. Field Marshal Munir was said to have listened attentively, noted points, and assured the delegation that measures would be taken to bring their grievances before the concerned civil institutions.
This conversation can be a turning point for civil-military-business relations in Pakistan. With the economic environment at a crossroads, the positive intervention of military leadership can bring new hope for structural changes, particularly regarding the controversial matter of FBR powers and energy inefficiency.
With the economy’s mainstay, the textile industry, still struggling against increasing challenges, such encounters provide a hint of promise. Whether this encounter produces implementable reform or is merely symbolic will become clear in the coming months.
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